Young footballers from Santa Barbara Soccer Club's Under-15s programmes enjoyed a remarkable training session led by Austria's national team coaching staff, offering them a rare window into World Cup preparations ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The academy players — representing Boys MLS Next and Girls Academy ASPIRE, two Santa Barbara SC development programmes dedicated to nurturing emerging talent — worked with Austria's coaches on the pitch, observed elite-level training methods, and had the chance to meet senior players from the Austrian squad.
The session was held at Austria's Santa Barbara Team Base Camp in California, where hundreds of additional fans were also welcomed to an open Community Training Session. Austria are scheduled to face Jordan in their opening FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on 16 June.
Be Active campaign takes centre stage
The event formed part of the Be Active campaign, a joint initiative from FIFA and the World Health Organization (WHO) first launched ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022. The campaign was developed in response to research showing that four out of five children worldwide are not meeting recommended physical activity levels.
Be Active encourages children to complete at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day — through football and other forms of exercise — with the goal of fostering healthier, more active lifestyles among young people globally. Campaign balloons, educational posters, and event signage reinforced the message throughout the day.
After the session concluded, the participating children had a special moment to cap the experience: a photo opportunity with Austria team captain David Alaba.
